Maine Turnpike a pathway of tribute to war veterans

Wednesday

Apr 2, 2003 at 2:00 AMDec 17, 2010 at 9:57 AM

Karen Dandurant

Cities and towns in many states are supporting U.S. troops by bringing back a traveling tradition dating back to World War I and World War II, but Maine has one of the largest war service dedications: 110 miles of road.

The Maine State Turnpike was officially dedicated as a Gold Star Highway in 1965. The designation serves to honor all the men and women who have died in military service. The Maine Turnpike runs from York to Augusta.

The Gold Star designation for the road is an offshoot of the tradition that is being revived in light of the war against Iraq. Called the Blue Star Banner Program, American Legion Posts across the nation are providing banners to families who have relatives deployed overseas. The banner bears a blue star for each person overseas. According to the tradition, if the deployed person is killed, the blue star is replaced by a gold one.

The banner program serves to let each community know of and support families who have sons and daughters defending the country.

The Maine Turnpike designation was the brainchild of a former state representative.

Limerick resident George Carroll is a disabled American veteran of World War II, and he served 14 years in the Maine Legislature.

"In 1965, two ladies came to me in Augusta," Carroll said. "They both had sons who died in WWII and were looking to have something in memory of their sons and others who had died. We talked over some ideas and they expressed an interest in having the turnpike being named a Gold Star Highway."

Bruce Pelletier, public affairs assistant for the Maine Turnpike Authority, said states often have roads, airports, and buildings named to recognize an individual or organization.

"Mr. Carroll's thought at the time was to have something prominent in the state to honor those who died in conflict," Pelletier said.

Carroll said the state passed the required legislation in 1965, but never really put up a suitable sign to make the designation well-known.

"There was just a wooden sign in Gardiner," said Carroll. "Because no one really remembered or noted it, about two years ago a legislator from Baldwin tried to rename the turnpike the Ronald Reagan Highway. I called and said the turnpike is already named."

Carroll said he was very upset by the attempt to change the name.

"I told the Legislature that if they put up a sign saying Ronald Reagan Highway, I'd tear it down. I said it has an honorable name and should be recognized. I was very proud to have done this. It's a beautiful highway and mother and fathers in America can see that we here in Maine honor those who gave their lives."

The road kept its Gold Star designation.

"So, I went to a meeting in Saco to talk about a rededication," Carroll said. "The turnpike authorities agreed with me."

A rededication ceremony was held on Nov. 8, 2001. New, larger road marker signs were commissioned to be placed along the highway. There is one just past the York tolls.

"We invited Gold Star families, mostly mothers," Pelletier said. "They brought along their families. We had a contingency of various armed services and turnpike employees who are veterans. We unveiled the new, clearly visible signs designed in the fashion of the original banners. The rededication made it clear the turnpike is a Gold Star Highway."

The Maine Turnpike is not the only road dedicated to service men and women.

After World War II, a movement was started throughout the United States to pay tribute to the nation's armed forces by designating various state highways, U.S. highways and Interstate highways as Blue Star Memorial Highways.

These highways are indicated by means of plaques in highway rest areas and similar locations, bearing the wording "Blue Star Memorial Highway - A tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America."

There are numerous Blue Star Memorial Highways in the country, including one in the northern part of Maine.

On the war against Iraq, Carroll said he fully supports the troops and the mission.

"I think it's too bad we couldn't have more countries involved, working with us," Carroll said. "But having seen what Hitler did when he rose to power, I know this is right. If we had the United Nations in power then, they could have gone in and stopped him, could have prevented WWII.

"We cannot have a bully going around threatening other nations. Saddam Hussein was licked in 1991 during Desert Storm, but we made the mistake of not pulling his fangs then and railroading him right out of there."

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